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Everybody Starts Somewhere
Everybody Starts Somewhere
Every motorcyclist remembers being a beginner. Learning to ride can seem intimidating at first—the clutch, throttle, brakes and balance all have to work together, and eventually you have to take those new skills out into traffic. But nobody starts out knowing how to do it. Riding is a learned skill, and with good instruction and a little practice, those unfamiliar controls quickly begin to make sense.
If you're serious about learning to ride, professional motorcycle training should be one of your first steps. A good beginner course gives you a controlled place to learn the fundamentals, make mistakes and build confidence under the guidance of instructors who teach people to ride for a living. You don't need a motorcycle in the garage first, and you certainly don't need a friend willing to turn you loose in a parking lot and hope for the best.
Washington has a network of DOL-approved motorcycle training schools offering courses specifically designed for beginning riders. Many provide the motorcycle you will learn on, and approved programs can also take you through the testing required as you work toward your Washington motorcycle permit and endorsement.
Below you'll find information about getting started, Washington's motorcycle training programs, and our GMRW Washington Motorcycle Training Schools & Locations Map to help you find a place to learn near you.
The first ride doesn't have to be a big one. You just have to start.
Finding the right place to learn shouldn't be the hard part. Washington has a statewide network of DOL-approved motorcycle training and testing providers, with locations offering everything from beginner rider courses and on-bike training to permit and endorsement testing.
To make those options easier to find, Great Motorcycle Rides Washington created a statewide motorcycle training map showing approved providers and their locations across Washington. Each school is color-coded so you can quickly see where they operate and what options are available in your part of the state.
Click the map below to open the interactive GMRW Washington Motorcycle Training Schools & Locations Map. Select any pin for the school name, location, services offered, address and a direct link to the training provider for current schedules, course availability and registration.
Whether you've never touched a motorcycle before or you're ready to complete the next step toward your endorsement, start by finding a training location near you.
Washington Motorcycle Training Schools
Washington Motorcycle Training Schools
Washington's DOL-approved motorcycle training providers all work toward the same basic goal—helping riders develop the skills and knowledge needed to ride safely and complete Washington's motorcycle permit and endorsement process—but the schools themselves are not all the same. Some operate large networks of training ranges, some are small regional schools, some offer Harley-Davidson Riding Academy programs, and several offer everything from a first few hours on a motorcycle through advanced rider training.
For a brand-new rider, one of the biggest things to check is whether a training motorcycle is provided. Many beginner courses supply a small, manageable motorcycle so you don't need to own a bike before learning to ride. Course schedules, locations and services change, so always confirm current details with the school before registering.
Washington Motorcycle Safety Training and Testing DOL Approved
4.9•Motorcycle driving school
WMST is one of Washington's largest motorcycle-training providers, with a network of ranges across Western Washington including Everett, Monroe, Auburn, Tacoma and Silverdale. Its programs cover riders from someone who has never operated a motorcycle through permit and endorsement training and more advanced skill development. WMST describes its philosophy as “skills before tests,” emphasizing repetition and real riding skills rather than simply preparing students to pass the state exercises.
A particularly interesting option for a completely new rider is KickStart, a three-hour, range-only introduction with no testing. Students learn basic controls, friction-zone operation, starting, stopping and straight-line riding before committing to a full permit course. WMST supplies the motorcycle for KickStart and its regular training courses; students generally bring their own riding gear.
Training motorcycle: Yes, for training courses
Beginner training: Yes
Permit & endorsement training/testing: Yes
2- and 3-wheel programs: Yes
Phone: 360-435-1600
Website: GoWMST.com
Cascade Motorcycle Safety
4.5•Motorcycle driving school
Cascade serves Northwest Washington and offers its Basic RiderCourse for people with little or no experience as well as returning riders. The BRC combines an online MSF eCourse, classroom instruction and approximately ten hours of riding. Students progress from identifying the controls through starting, stopping, shifting, turning and more advanced street-survival skills such as swerving and hazard avoidance.
Cascade provides the training motorcycle, and use of it is included in the Basic RiderCourse. Washington permit-level knowledge and skills testing are also included in the BRC. Riders who already possess the basics can continue into Basic RiderCourse 2, which concentrates on cornering, stopping, swerving and hazard avoidance and includes endorsement-level testing.
Training motorcycle: Yes
Beginner training: Yes
Permit testing: Included with BRC
Endorsement training/testing: Available
Phone: 360-969-1710
Website: Cascade Motorcycle Safety
Puget Sound Safety is another long-established Western Washington option, particularly useful for riders around the South Sound. Its Basic Rider Training program is specifically intended for new riders or riders wanting a basic refresher and includes roughly 13 hours of instruction. Current training locations listed for the basic program include Tacoma, Steilacoom and Olympia.
Students learn motorcycle controls, starting, stopping, shifting, cornering and slow-speed maneuvering along with risk-reduction strategies. Importantly for someone who hasn't purchased a motorcycle yet, a school motorcycle is included, and a scooter can be requested. Permit written and riding-skills tests are included in the basic course. Students supply their own helmet, eye protection, gloves, over-the-ankle footwear and appropriate riding clothing.
Training motorcycle: Yes; scooter available by request
Beginner training: Yes
Permit testing: Included with basic training
Phone: 253-770-8888
Website: Puget Sound Safety
SW Motorcycle Safety has been providing motorcycle education in Southwest Washington for more than 30 years and offers courses ranging from beginner through intermediate, experienced and advanced riders. The school emphasizes both physical motorcycle-control skills and the mental side of safer street riding. It is also a DOL-approved testing provider.
Its beginner-oriented Get Riding Course incorporates Washington's Level I permit knowledge and skills testing. More experienced riders can move into Street Strategies and other courses aimed at endorsement preparation and continuing skill development. For a first-time rider, I would confirm motorcycle availability directly when registering, because the school's current public material does not state the loaner-bike policy as clearly as WMST, Cascade or Puget Sound Safety.
Training motorcycle: Confirm when registering
Beginner training: Yes
Permit & endorsement testing: Yes
Advanced training: Yes
Phone: 360-967-2090
Website: SW Motorcycle Safety
Central Washington Motorcycle Training serves riders on the east side of the Cascades and describes its purpose simply: giving riders the knowledge and physical skills necessary to become safer motorcyclists, whether they're starting out or advancing existing skills. Its current operation includes classes and testing in Waterville and Yakima, written testing by appointment in Wenatchee, and testing on selected dates in Moses Lake.
That distinction is important when using our map: not every CWMT pin represents a full beginner riding course. Riders should select the appropriate training location rather than assuming every site offers the same services.
Beginner training: Yes
Training motorcycle: Contact school for current course availability
Training & testing: Waterville and Yakima
Wenatchee: Written testing by appointment
Moses Lake: Testing on selected dates
Phone: 509-884-6186
Website: Central Washington Motorcycle Training
FACT is a locally owned Central Washington motorcycle-training company based in Yakima. Unlike a temporary parking-lot operation, FACT maintains a dedicated motorcycle-education classroom and a dedicated riding range nearby. Its instructors are MSF and Washington Motorcycle Safety Program certified; FACT notes that several instructors have education or law-enforcement backgrounds, including former motorcycle officers.
Its MSF Basic RiderCourse is designed specifically for people with little or no riding experience. FACT also offers Basic RiderCourse 2, permit and endorsement testing, private lessons and other rider-development options. That makes it particularly useful for someone who wants to continue training beyond simply getting legal.
Beginner training: Yes — MSF Basic RiderCourse
Private lessons: Yes
Permit & endorsement testing: Yes
Training motorcycle: Confirm current availability when registering
Phone: 509-248-2373
Website: FACT Motorcycle Training
Motorcycle Training, Inc. operates in Richland and serves the Tri-Cities area. It offers training from basic through advanced levels as well as Washington motorcycle testing, with an emphasis on motorcycle control, hazard awareness and defensive riding.
This is another good option for someone who doesn't own a motorcycle yet. Training motorcycles are available for both the Basic Rider Course and Intermediate Rider Course. Students may alternatively bring an eligible street-legal motorcycle. For stand-alone skills testing, however, riders must provide their own motorcycle. Advanced courses also generally require the rider's own machine.
Training motorcycle: Yes — Basic and Intermediate courses
Beginner training: Yes
Permit & endorsement testing: Yes
Advanced training: Yes
Phone: 509-371-0888
Website: Motorcycle Training, Inc.
Spokane MotorSchool
Spokane MotorSchool
Spokane MotorSchool provides motorcycle training and endorsement testing in North Spokane/Mead and has one of the more interesting progressions for a truly inexperienced rider. Its JumpStart course is a pre-basic class specifically for someone with absolutely no riding experience. The school supplies the motorcycle, class sizes are smaller, and the emphasis is on clutch control, posture, starting, stopping and straight-line riding before moving into the regular beginner program.
Its regular Learn to Ride beginner course includes classroom and riding instruction and permit testing. Spokane MotorSchool says motorcycles are provided for its beginner and refresher training, although riders may use an eligible motorcycle of their own. It also offers private lessons, endorsement testing, sidecar/trike training and specialized courses such as cornering.
Training motorcycle: Yes
Absolute-beginner introduction: Yes — JumpStart
Beginner/permit training: Yes
Endorsement testing: Yes
Private & advanced instruction: Yes
Phone: 509-326-6181
Lone Wolf Harley-Davidson
3.3•Harley-Davidson dealer
For someone who already knows that the Harley-Davidson side of motorcycling appeals to them, Lone Wolf offers the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy New Rider Course in Spokane Valley. The program is designed for people who have never ridden as well as those who need to refresh their skills, with classroom and range instruction from certified coaches.
One of the obvious differences here is the motorcycle: students learn on a genuine Harley-Davidson training motorcycle. Instruction covers accelerating, shifting, braking, turning and motorcycle-control maneuvers in the Riding Academy environment.
Training motorcycle: Yes — Harley-Davidson
Beginner training: Yes — New Rider Course
Program: Harley-Davidson Riding Academy
Phone: 509-927-7433
Website: Lone Wolf Harley-Davidson Riding Academy
Hells Canyon Harley-Davidson serves the Lewiston-Clarkston/Asotin area and also participates in the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy program. Its New Rider Course is designed for beginning riders and combines classroom and range instruction with certified coaches. Like Lone Wolf, the Riding Academy program teaches students on Harley-Davidson motorcycles supplied for the course.
This is particularly significant geographically because riders in the far southeastern corner of Washington have comparatively few training options. Riders should check the school's current Washington testing/course location when registering because the dealership itself is across the state line in Lewiston while our DOL map includes its Washington training/testing presence in Asotin.
Training motorcycle: Yes — Harley-Davidson Riding Academy
Beginner training: Yes
Region: Clarkston/Asotin/Lewiston area
Website: Hells Canyon Harley-Davidson Riding Academy
AC is an interesting newer addition to Washington's motorcycle-training network because it combines traditional driver education with motorcycle rider education in Clarkston. The school says its motorcycle operation offers Learn to Ride, intermediate and licensing programs for both two- and three-wheel motorcycles, along with state-certified motorcycle knowledge and skills examinations.
AC describes its program as Washington-state recognized and nationally certified, and notes that its broader safety-training philosophy draws on experience from former law-enforcement officers. For someone in the Clarkston area, it provides another route into formal training without having to travel to Spokane or Central Washington.
Beginner training: Yes — Learn to Ride
Intermediate training: Yes
2- and 3-wheel: Yes
Permit/endorsement testing: Yes
Training motorcycle: Confirm when registering
Phone: 509-769-7040
Website: AC Driving & Motorcycle School
Right-Way Moto / Apple Jack's Riding Academy
Right-Way Moto / Apple Jack's Riding Academy
Right-Way Moto is currently listed by Washington DOL as a motorcycle provider at 151 NE Hampe Way in Chehalis, giving riders in the Centralia/Chehalis corridor another motorcycle-training/testing options.
DOL-listed motorcycle provider: Yes
Location: Chehalis
Training motorcycle: Confirm with provider
Course details: Confirm with provider
Which School Should You Choose?
Which School Should You Choose?
For a brand-new rider, the nearest school isn't necessarily the only consideration. Look at whether the beginner course supplies a motorcycle, how much actual range time is included, whether permit testing is incorporated into the course, and whether the school offers a lower-pressure introductory class if you've never operated a clutch before.
WMST's KickStart and Spokane MotorSchool's JumpStart stand out for someone who simply wants to find out, “Can I actually do this?” before entering a full course. Cascade, Puget Sound Safety and Motorcycle Training, Inc. explicitly supply motorcycles with their beginner programs, while the Harley-Davidson Riding Academies provide the opportunity to learn on a Harley-Davidson. Other schools may provide motorcycles as well, but call and confirm before registering whenever the school's current information doesn't explicitly say so.
Whichever school you choose, remember what the course is intended to be: a foundation. Passing the tests doesn't mean you've finished learning to ride. It means you've acquired the basic skills to begin building experience safely. The best riders keep practicing—and many of these schools offer intermediate and advanced courses specifically for that reason.
Built by riders, for riders, the Washington Motorcycle Rider Resource Center is a growing collection of practical tools, guides, and information for exploring Washington State on two wheels. From hand signals and trip planning to weather, road conditions, and rider resources, you'll find the knowledge needed to make the most of every ride.
Built by riders, for riders, the Washington Motorcycle Rider Resource Center is a growing collection of practical tools, guides, and information for exploring Washington State on two wheels. From hand signals and trip planning to weather, road conditions, and rider resources, you'll find the knowledge needed to make the most of every ride.
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